COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Booyco says it has witnessed a surge in demand for its PDS and Collision Prevention Systems ( CPS ) since the regulation ' s promulgation
dump trucks ( ADTs ), widely used in small and medium sized mines and by mining and earthworks contractors . Then we look at a range of other CAS players .
Booyco on a progressive industry
Booyco Electronics points out that a decade ago , the mining sector in South Africa faced a grim reality with 270 annual fatalities . However , the industry has made significant strides in reducing these numbers by 20 % annually , resulting in improved safety records . In 2021 , the industry saw a slight setback with an increase in fatalities and injuries , but progress remains evident as 49 were recorded in 2022 .
Booyco says it has witnessed a surge in demand for its PDS and Collision Prevention Systems ( CPS ) since the regulation ' s promulgation . These systems offer crucial vehicle-to-pedestrian and vehicle-to-vehicle detection capabilities . Its main solution is the CXS , a solution engineered to mitigate the risk of collisions between pedestrians and vehicles , or between vehicles , in operational environments .
Anton Lourens , CEO of Booyco Electronics , notes that South Africa ' s mining industry has been proactive in adopting technologies and innovative products to foster behavioural changes in pursuit of safety . With stricter mine safety legislation , the company is focused on ensuring compliance with South African proximity detection and collision prevention systems requirements .
Lourens says the Minerals Council South Africa played a pivotal role in understanding and mediating around this regulation and identified concerns related to equipment supply , installation , and maintenance . In addition to implementation of PDS systems , some mining houses are keen to take ownership of product maintenance , requiring comprehensive training for their personnel and this creates further opportunities for Booyco Electronics to expand its workforce .
“ Significantly , South Africa was the first country to regulate PDS deployment in mining , attracting interest and engagement not only locally but also internationally ,” Lourens says . Booyco Electronics , in business for over 17 years , has evolved its product line to meet diverse operational needs . However , Lourens emphasises that PDS alone cannot guarantee safety improvements and that overall CPS success hinges on buy-in from all stakeholders implemented through an integrated approach .
“ The mining industry ' s appetite for technology adoption varies , but the majority has been quick to embrace advanced technology systems , including PDS and CPS . Better connectivity and data management are also priorities , aiding in safety , efficiency , and productivity enhancement ,” he adds .
The company , which is also growing its African footprint , already has a presence in DRC , Ghana , Namibia and Zambia , and has been appointing collaborative technology partners in areas that have a similar mode of operation to that of South African mines . In 2022 , on the surface CAS side , Booyco entered into an agreement with Wenco International Mining Systems where Booyco ’ s CXS will become Wenco ’ s Level 9 open pit CXS solution . The development came after both companies were selected by Gold Fields Salares Norte mine after an extensive evaluation process ; Booyco for CAS and Wenco for its Fleet Management System .
Finally , Lourens says that digital twin technology is also gaining traction , enabling realtime scenario simulations for risk mitigation , traffic management and analyses and movement monitoring . Booyco Electronics remains committed to helping industries save lives and reduce injuries through its innovative technology .
MPI ’ s CAS heritage shines through
Gert Venter , Motion Perfection Industries ( MPI ) Commercial Manager says it started its journey into collision avoidance back in late 2012 with our initial development . “ Our fist prototypes went into the mining sector in 2015 . At that stage the law for alert and awareness was just propagated and for Level 9 the DMRE suspended the section that mention vehicles should crawl and stop due the industry not being ready . Our first solution was GNSS-based and as we got more involved with our clients and their request to have a customisable solution rather that off the shelf , we started to adapt our solution to meet client specific needs .”
He adds : “ We then started to hear that the DMRE was thinking about lifting the suspension clause in 2020 so a team got together adopting the MOSH and EMESRT standards in 2017 . This was led by Thys Greyvensteyn in conjunction with
the University of Pretoria [ UP ] and other members . The specific task for this was to get PDS / CXD suppliers ready for Level 9 and align the PDS / CXD suppliers with the relevant OEMs to ensure that we could meet the then 2020 timeline . With this process started and with the support of some of our mining clients , development on our product started to fast track , with open communication to the OEM and great teamwork from all stakeholders .”
MPI says it was able to prove its Level 9 capabilities on site as early as 2018 when its first test was done on site with UP involved . The test was conducted with two Bell machines on a Glencore site . Following this success and getting more involvement from other OEMs MPI started doing more tests on different sites including with Cat ADTs , plus was the first to test lLevel 9 on a front-end loader at the Afrimat Glen Douglas dolomite quarry and running the machine live for more than 500 working hours .
Venter : “ From 2017 till today we have been always evolving our technology and adding to our solution so that we now have a fully integrated system for the mine . Highlights include the likes of brigade radars for object detection and fatigue cameras , breathalysers , tracking devices and other systems that are used on a mine . With the integration capabilities into Level 9 it took our solution to new heights for instance when a fatigue alert comes through we can activate Level 9 capabilities like slow down and stop .”
He adds : “ We have had great sessions and alignment with the local bodies like the Minerals Council . Most of our test methodologies include testing in accordance the best practices guidelines like MOSH and EMERST plus all of our OEM validation testing has been done through UP as well as scenario testing . We have integrated directly with OEMs like Cat , Komatsu , Bell , BELAZ and recently Hitachi plus have integrated with the likes of Nerospec for a third party VIC . Recently we have also completed ISO 21815-2 testing at UP . MPI differentiates itself in the CAS space by our multiple fail to safe technology being used , strong OEM alignment and third party integration where no solution is available from the OEM , plus tailor-made solutions for the end user considering budgets of smaller mines versus bigger mines . Being a locally produced CXD provider in SA we can offer a fully customised solution specially tailored to the end user requirements . We are also able to
JANUARY 2024 | International Mining